Second Half Run for the LA Kings?

The LA Kings went into the All-Star break sitting atop the Pacific Division with 63 points. The Sharks are a close 56 points and the Kings would love nothing better than to extend that margin again. So, with the second half of the season starting tonight, can the LA Kings make a run in the second half to get back to the playoffs and win the Stanley Cup again?

Here are a couple of things to keep an eye on. They've won two Stanley Cups in the past four years and people say they now have as many championships as the Blackhawks. Well, no. The Blackhawks won three but if the Kings win another one, they could potentially be a more important team than the Blackhawks. Now, another thing that goes for on is that they can play offense on a daily basis. They are a scary team to play against because once they have the puck on their sticks, it seems almost as if nobody can stop them. At the beginning of the season, the Kings didn't have any offense and lost their first three games. Now, head coach Darryl Sutter has seemed to righted the ship and it's paying off with a place atop the Pacific Division.

Two players they have are goalie Jonathan Quick and defenseman Drew Doughty. Drew Doughty, in my mind, has proven himself to be an MVP this season because of the way he skates and plays defense to help Quick. Quick has already proven he can be a wall when it is most needed. The Kings will certainly need that when they go into the stretch come April. What Doughty has proven other than being an MVP candidate is that he's a leader and a winner. He has risen above all players on this team to say, "Hey look, I think we can win." (my words, not his) He is constantly the inspiration for why this team is a scary team to play against. You don't want to go up against this guy when it's a one-on-one situation because most of the time, he will probably beat you. Doughty can play at any position. He can score, he can play defense, and at times when Quick is out of the play, Doughty can be the goalie. Is there something this kid can't do already?

I think the Kings will keep their pace atop the Pacific Division and win it and they'll be back in the playoffs. Now, I won't say if they'll win the Stanley Cup again, because they will most likely have to face the Blackhawks down the road. But if they can keep up with the way they have played in the first half, I think no doubt they are a team to be reckoned with in the West. There is a saying that fear can be power and the fear that other teams have for them can be a motivator for this Kings team to potentially win it all.